Launching airplanes from water



R. H. FLEET ETAL 2,234,750

LAUNCHING- AIRPLANES FROM WATER l Original Filed Jan.' 13. 1937 3 Sheeis$heet l R. H. FLEET ET AL LAUNCHING AIRPLANES FROM WATER Original Filed Jan. 125, 1937 VAI Gum-MMF Manch 11, 19,41.' R H- FLEET Erl-AL, 2,234,750

LAUCHING AIRPLANES FROM WATER Original Fiied Jan. 15. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 aan* Mm/ww www@ PATENT j OFFICE LAUNcmNG AIRPLANES FROM WATER Reuben H. Fleet, William B. Wheatley, and Isaac M.` Laddon, San Diego, Calif.

Application January 13, 1937, Serial No. 120,440 Renewed April 16, 1940 1o Claims. (ci. 244-63) Uur invention relates to' means for launching an airplane.

'lhe method We employ is to mount the airplane on a heat hull, from which the airplane takes off 5 leaving the boat hull in the water. The airplane rnay be of the landplane or yseaplane type, and

is adapted to merely rest on the supporting boat hull or to be locked -to the hull until the pilot releases it.

@ne ol the advantages ofthe invention lies In the lightening oi the structure of the airplane, thus permitting a greater load carrying capacity. This is particularly true of seaplanes Where the boat hull, in the case of a flying boat, or the 'd' pontoons comprise a substantial portion ci the weight. Where there is a small available landing :held near Water, landplanes can be landed on the air ileld and then launched from a detachable um heat hull which will he propelled across the Water.

Thus landplaries can he used in localities Where the landina field Would not he big enough lor a proper talreoilu "lill-nere are a number oi other advantages ol" our type ci construction which will be apparent troni the ensuing description. limone these advantages are that the pontoons, or supporting 'boat hull, can he designed for the most favorable Water characteristics without adapting the desipn lor reduced airreslstance, such as is neces- 3W sary at the present time where the pontoons or boat hull are carried into the air with the airplane. The pontoons, or boat hull, can be given a large area so that the draft of the pontoon or lioat hull will not be as great as is at present iii necessary in View oi the compromise which is novi' heine made between favorable Water characteristics and iavorable air resistance.' Features such as reduced water resistance for agiven amount ci Water displaced, etc. can be incorporated in im* the design oi the supporting boat hull or pontoon structure.,

Moreover our system has the advantage oi beine able to vary the attitude of the airplane without changing the planing angle of the'ponlli toons or supporting boat hull.

One type of our invention contemplates lockinc the airplane'to' the boat hull, or pontoons, and in this type of construction by manipulatina the controls on the airplane theboat hull or dit pontoons-'can berocked to cause it to get on the step.

In order to make our invention more clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into do practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.'Y

i@ In the drawings:

Figure l is a View in side elevation ci a flying boat mounted on our boat hull which is also shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view in iront elevation oi the construction shown in Pleure l; 5

Flg.3 is a diagrammatic side elevation oi a flying icoat heine mounted on a submerged boat hull;

Fig. i is a diagrammatic View showing the boat hull raised into lioatine position and supporting m the flying boat out of the'vvater, the flying boat being in a relatively low-lift attitude;

Fig. 5 is a diaerarnrnatic vievv sliovviner the positions oi the detachable looat hull and flying boat alter the airplane has taken oil from the M' supportinp.r heat hull; i

Fig. ii is a view in side elevation or" another iorrn oi our invention shovvlna the supporting boat and the propeliinp boat hull iienihltr atm tachecl thereto; im

Fie. 'l is a top plan vietv oi iorrn oi invention shown in lillpure d, with the airplane reinoved i'rorn the cradle on the supporting,r looat hull;

d is a 'vievv in side elevation showing the t5 position oi the ilyinfr boat and the supporting boat huil ,iust before the dying boat contacts the supportinp cradle; Y

liter. 9 is a view in side elevation oi a iorrn of supportine hoat hull lor use 'with landplanes; 3U

iria, le is a vievv in side elevation ci a forni ci device in which the airplane is loclred to the boat hull until the instant oi talreod;

Fie. ll is a iront elevational view ol the iorrn of device shown in Figure iii; 35

Fie. l2 is a detail vlevv showing the locking mechanism lor locirina the airplane to the boat hull in the lorm oi device illustrated in Figure 1li.

Referrinp to the drawings, we have shown in Figures l and 2i a supporting boat hull i carry- 40 y ing a cradle 2 plvoted at .i on the boat hull. 'The pivoted cradle i is adapted to contact a front support element i in a relatively low angle of attack attitude` oi a seaplane 5 mounted on the cradle i, and a rear support 6 in a relatively 45 high angle of attack attitude of the seaplane 5. The seaplane 5 is provided with propellers l, and -a V-bottom undersurface t which lies on the upper surface of the cradle 2, which is given a V-shape, as indicated at 9, to accommodate the 50 v-bottom-8 of the iiying boat. The cradle, as above stated, is'pivoted at 3 on end supports IIl in which the ends of a shalt Il arev journaled. 'There are intermediate supporting journals I2 provided. 55

The supports I0 and the supports I2 lie on the upper surface of a support platform I3 which is supported between two pontoons it. Each pontoon I4 may be provided with a bottoni having a step I5 therein, in accordance with' the usual 30 practice for construction of pontoons. The supports 4 and 6, and those above mentioned, are

located on the platform I3. At a seaplane base vwhere a hoist is available, the flying boat may be hoisted and placed on the supporting hull, thus eliminating the necessity of sinking the supporting hull.

In another operation the ying boat 5 may be resting on the surface I6 of the water. 'Ihe supporting hull I is allowed to fill with water which may be pumped into each of the pontoons through lines I-1 which are flexible and adapted to have their ends, through a suitable coupling not shown in detail, coupled to couplings I8 shown in Figure 2 at the top of each pontoon I4. Through the admission of water through the lines I1 into the pontoons I4, the pontoons I4 sink below the sur= face and are held in place by lines I9 at the stern and 2U at the bow. The lines I9 may be attached t an anchored iloat or body 2l, and the lines 20 to an anchored float or body 22. Or 2| and 22 may indicate tenders which may be employed to maneuver the boat hull under `the airplane.

-When the supporting hull I is below the water as shown in Fig. 3, the flying boat may be maneuvered to a position above the cradle 2, or the supporting hull in the case of tenders being used can be so maneuvered as to bring the flying boat and the supporting boat hull in the proper relative position. Through the lines I1 water may be pumped out of the pontoons I4 and the supporting hull raised to the position indicated diagrammatically in Figure 4, wherein -the hull is shown floating high.

It is to be understood that where water is pumped into or out of the pontoons I4 provision must be made vfor the discharge or inflow of air. We have shown air lines I1 that are attached to the coupling I8 and permit air to flow into or be discharged from the pontoons I4. Note that the lines I1 are indicated as reaching to the bottom of the pontoons I4, so that the pontoons may be substantially completely pumped dry. Instead of the method above set forth air could of course be pumped into the pontoons to displace water in raising the pontoons. The details of this later method willA be readily apparent and it is not thought necessary to illustrate them.

The seaplane 5 in Figure 4 is shown in a relatively low-lift attitude. The motors are started and the propellers 'I drive the combined seaplane and supporting hull forward until a speed which is preferably well in excess of flying speed is attained, at which time the pilotoperates the controls to rotate the seaplane into the position where the cradle 2 contacts with the rear support 6. The flying boat, since it is in a relatively high angle of attack attitude, then rises into the air as indicated in Figure 5. v

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 we have .shown another type of our invention in which the supporting hull I has pivoted to the undersurface of the platform I3 at points 23 connecting link elements 24 which are pivoted at 25 to a propellingboat member 26 which is provided with a motor, not shown, a rudder 21 and propeller 28, and in the cockpit 29 of which is adapted t0 ride a pilot.

From a suitable pump provided in the interior of the propelling boat 26 lead flexible pipe lines 30 which are suitably attached at 3i to each of the pontoons I4. Suitable connections are madefrom near the bottom-of the pontoons I4 to the iexible pipes 3|, thus enabling water to loe pumped out of the pontoons or pumped into them at will to raise or to lower the supporting hull I.

The connecting pipes within the interiorl of the pontoons are not shown, for purposes of simplicity in illustration, nor are they shown ln Figures 1 and 2, though it is to be understood that suitable pipe connections will be made to permit water to be pumped out of the pontoons or into the pontoons at will.

In order to prevent the arms 24 from falling too low and permitting the supporting hull to sink too far below the surface of the water, we have shown flexible cables'32 attached to an upright 33 on top of the propelling boat 26. As shown in Figure 8, the cables 32 will be stretched taut and support the arms 24 from falling too low. The length of the cables 32 may be adjusted to permit the boat hull I to sink to a proper depth below thesurface.

In the operation of this type of device'the motors of the airplane, as well as the propelling motor of the boat 26, drive the airplane and the supporting hull forward until a speed well in excess of the flying speed 0f the airplane is reached, at which time the pilot operates the controls to raise the air-plane from the supporting cradle. As explained Previously in connection with the form of device shown in Figures 1. to 5 inclusive, the supporting hull may be raised or lowered by pumping water into or pumping water out of the pontoons.

In Figure 9 we have shown a type of construe tion in which there is mountedon the platform I3 between the pontoons I4 another type of pivoted cradle 34, which is pivoted on supports 35 formed on the platform I3. This form of cradle 34 is provided with front chocks 36 against which the wheels 31 of the-landplane 38 are adapted to lie, as indicated. The rear of the landplane indicated generally by.the numeral 39 is supported by means of Outrigger elements 4I! which are attached to the upper surface of the pivoted support or cradle 34. The Outrigger elements join in a supporting surface 4 I` against which rests the rear wheel or skid 42 of the landplane 38. In this form of device the pilot maintains the air-I plane in a low-lift attitude, as shown in Figure 9, until the proper speed is reached. On rotating the airplane until the cradle 34 contacts the rear support element 6 the airplane will take to the air, the wheels 31 being lifted out of contact with the chocks 36. This type of cradle support is of particular use as indicated, with landplanes, which ordinarily require tail support elements in view of the fact that the wheels only of the landplane rest against the cradle proper, thus making it necessary to have the tail supported.

In the form of device shown in Figures to 12, inclusive, we have shown the same landplane 38 illustrated in Figure 9 supported on a single boat hull 43 having an upper support surface 44 and a bottom 45. The wheels 31 rest against chocks 46 formed on the upper surface 44 of the single boat hull 43. provided with an upwardly projecting support member 41 having an upper supporting surface 48 against which the rear wheel or skid 42 of the landplane 38 rests. The boat hull 43 is provided with outriggers 49 carrying small Outrigger pontoons 50 to give lateral stability to the combination.

In order to hold the landplane 38 firmly in position on top of the boat hull 43, we have shown a holding mechanism comprising a cable 5I pivoted at 52 on the support 41. The cable is provided with an eye 53 in which is attached a link 54. The link 54 passes through an aperture 55 The single boat hull 43 is formed in the bottom 56 of the landplane 38. Attached to the inside of the bottom 58 of the landplane 38 is a guide element 51 having an aperture 58.

The link or loop 54 fits up into the guide element 5l, and a hook 59 is adapted to pass through the loop 54 and into the aperture 58 of the guide element 51. The hook 59 is attached to an arm 60 which is pivoted at 6| to the interior of the airplane. Pivoted at 62 on the arm Gt is an operating cable 63 which passes forward to a control handle 64 in the cockpit oi the airplane at a position accessible to theA pilot. The control handle 64 is pivoted at 65. Means, not shown, are provided to hold the control handle t4 in position until the pilot desires to effect the release, at which time the control handle 8l is moved forward to pull on the cable 63, which rotates the arm 5U and removes the hook 5S from out of the loop 54. The loop 54 then falls out through the aperture 55 in the bottom 56 of the tail and the rear oi the landplane is free. Simultaneously a cable G8 is also tensioned by the movement of the control handle 6d. The cable 56 passes over pulleys 6l and 8B, and pulls forward on a similar arm til to release a loop similar to the loop 54, which falls through the bottom of the airplane releasing the attachment of the airplane to the supporting hull 3 through a cable 5l', similar in construction and function to the cable 5l.

A similar locking device can be used to hold the airplane in place in the construction illustrated in Figure 9 if desired.

The airplane is thus simultaneously released at both of its points oi attachment to the supporting hull, and can take of! after the pilot rotates' the rigid combination to a relatively high angle ci attack attitude.

It is to be noted in this form of device just described, it is possible for the pilot to control the planing angle of the supporting boat in the same manner as the normal seapiane is controlled in planing. This cannot be done in the type of device where a freely pivoting cradle or support is employed.

The same general method of supporting and locking the landplane to the supporting boat can be used on airplanes having entirely different types of` landing gears.

In the forms of construction shown, particularly in the forms illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, the airplane is shown mounted a little further to the rear in the cradle than in actual practice. In general the center of gravity of the airplane is about one quarter chord distance from the leading edge of the wing in most constructions. It

`is generally desirable that the center of gravity of the airplane inthe cradle be a little forward of the cradle pivot. so that at rest the airplane will overbalance the cradle, and the parts will rest in the position shown in Figures `1 and 6 4with the cradle contacting the forward support element l.

Airplane asused hereingbroadly includes land airplanes, seapianes, flying boats, amphibians 'and any other heavier-than-air-aircraft. Body element and body unit as used herein broadly includes a land airplane fuselage, a flying boat airboat or amphibian hull, and the equivalent oi a body in the case of a ilying'wing airplane having no external body. The supporting boat as herein described to support an airplane above the water to assist in takeoff, is variously referred to in the specification, as supporting boat, auxiliary boat, boat hull and pontoons, of which latter two are required.

We claim:

1. In a launching apparatus for the water launching of an airplane, a supporting boat. a pivoted cradle on the supporting boat on which the airplane is adapted to rest, a propelling boat, means linking the two boats, and propelling means in said propelling boat.

2. lin a launching apparatus for the water launching of an airplane, a supporting boat having pontoons, a platform between the pontoons, a cradle pivoted on the platform, a propelling boat, means linking the two boats, and propelling means in said propelling boat.

3. Launching apparatus for launching a landplane from the water comprising a hull, a pivoted cradle on the hull, and Outrigger supports from the cradle to the aft part of the landplane,

4. Launching apparatus for launching a landplane from the Water comprising a hull, a pivoted cradle on the hull, Outrigger supports from the cradle to the aft part of the landplane, and a chock device adapted to lie in front of the wheels of the landplane and carried by the cradle.

5. In a launching apparatus for the water launching of an airplane, a supporting boat, a cradle on which the airplane is adapted to rest, said cradle being pivoted to the supporting boat in a horizontal plane, a propelling boat, means linking the two boats, and propelling means in said propelling boat.

6. In a launching apparatus lfor the water launching of an airplane, a supporting boat, a pivoted cradle on the supporting boat on which the airplane is adapted to rest, a propelling boat` at the rear of the supporting boat, means linking the two boats. and propelling means in the proing pontoons, a platform between the pontoons,

a cradle on which the airplane is adapted to rest, the cradle being pivoted to the platform in a substantially horizontal plane, a propelling boat, supporting arms attaching the propelling boat to the supporting boat, and propelling means in the propelling boat.

9. Launching apparatus for launching a landplane from the water comprising a hull, a cradle upon which the airplane is adapted to rest, said cradle being pivoted to the hull in a substantially horizontal plane, and Outrigger supports extending from the rear portion of the cradle to the aft portion of the landpiane.

10. Launching apparatus for launching a landplane from the water comprising a hull, a cradle upon which theA landplane is adapted to rest, the cradle being pivoted vto the hull in a substantially horizontal plane. Outrigger supports extending 4from the rear of the cradle to the aft portion of the landplane, and a chock device adapted to lie in front of each wheel of the landplane and supported by the cradle.

. REUBEN H. FLEET.

WILLIAM B. WIIIEIATI.EY.` ISAAC M. LADDON. 

